Reflect some of the ways that you want to assess your students, i.e. monitor whether they are understanding what you're teaching.
Describe your (or your CT's) grading policy, i.e. how you will assign scores to represent performance. Explain why you are using this method. If you are continuing your CT's grading policy, explain what you feel are some of its strengths and weaknesses.
The students can usually expect a short quiz at the end of each week. These quizzes are helpful in quickly assessing what students understand from that week's instruction, and what topics were unclear and need to be re-addressed. Students are given homework assignments at least 4 days out of the week. Homeworks are checked for completion, and if completed on they are worth 10 points a piece. Late homework assignments are still accepted, yet, students are aware that they will not receive full credit. Students are also assigned "Big Book Pages" after each major piece of a unit. These assignments are large pieces of construction paper, which the students format to look like pages from large books. On each page students explain the different topics which they just finished learning about, using short descriptions and illustrations. For example the most recent assignment came after the completion of the space unit. The Big Book pages covered, the phases of the moon, and the different types of eclipses. Once complete these pages are kept in the classroom to form a "Big Book" at the end of the year. The "Big Book" is meant to be used as a study tool for the NECAP exams students take in 8th grade. Students are also assigned small creative projects randomly such as the "Planet Brochure" they created recently, in the format of a travel brochure. Student lab work is also graded, and depending on the intensity of the lab can be either checked for completion or scored. Students have a large unit test twice a year, once at the end of the Earth and Space Unit, and another at the end of the Organisms unit in the Spring. These tests are formatted to appear as questions and situations students may see on the NECAP exam. Each unit test is comprised of a written and practical part, and spans 2 days.
I feel as though this grading method is ideal for middle school students. It is important to encourage students to finish work even if late, especially at the middle school level. It shows that their effort, although not as much as it should have been, is still appreciated. Yet, because late homework does not receive full credit students are well aware that it counts and getting it in on time is ideal. This policy may not work for high school students who should be expected to get work in on time, and should have a much more developed sense of responsibility.
Although some assignments are NECAP based, they are focused on the test taking skills students should develop in order to be successful on these exams. The "Big Book Pages" are also a great way to allow students to be creative, yet serve a purpose in providing students with a set of study guides, necessary because of the time between 7th grade science and the 8th grade NECAP.
Journal Entry: Assessment and Grading
Name: Sarah JakobThe students can usually expect a short quiz at the end of each week. These quizzes are helpful in quickly assessing what students understand from that week's instruction, and what topics were unclear and need to be re-addressed. Students are given homework assignments at least 4 days out of the week. Homeworks are checked for completion, and if completed on they are worth 10 points a piece. Late homework assignments are still accepted, yet, students are aware that they will not receive full credit. Students are also assigned "Big Book Pages" after each major piece of a unit. These assignments are large pieces of construction paper, which the students format to look like pages from large books. On each page students explain the different topics which they just finished learning about, using short descriptions and illustrations. For example the most recent assignment came after the completion of the space unit. The Big Book pages covered, the phases of the moon, and the different types of eclipses. Once complete these pages are kept in the classroom to form a "Big Book" at the end of the year. The "Big Book" is meant to be used as a study tool for the NECAP exams students take in 8th grade. Students are also assigned small creative projects randomly such as the "Planet Brochure" they created recently, in the format of a travel brochure. Student lab work is also graded, and depending on the intensity of the lab can be either checked for completion or scored. Students have a large unit test twice a year, once at the end of the Earth and Space Unit, and another at the end of the Organisms unit in the Spring. These tests are formatted to appear as questions and situations students may see on the NECAP exam. Each unit test is comprised of a written and practical part, and spans 2 days.
I feel as though this grading method is ideal for middle school students. It is important to encourage students to finish work even if late, especially at the middle school level. It shows that their effort, although not as much as it should have been, is still appreciated. Yet, because late homework does not receive full credit students are well aware that it counts and getting it in on time is ideal. This policy may not work for high school students who should be expected to get work in on time, and should have a much more developed sense of responsibility.
Although some assignments are NECAP based, they are focused on the test taking skills students should develop in order to be successful on these exams. The "Big Book Pages" are also a great way to allow students to be creative, yet serve a purpose in providing students with a set of study guides, necessary because of the time between 7th grade science and the 8th grade NECAP.